The Best Video Game Wingmen Ever

Main characters usually get all the attention in games, but for most great heroes, there's at least one other character helping them out. Isn't it time we honored some of these unsung individuals? Without further ado, here are some of our favorite sidekicks and wingmen in games.

Check out our IGN Original, The 30 Greatest Video Game Sidekicks!

Sheva Alomar - Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 focuses more on action than survival horror, which means you have to kill a lot of undead creatures before you see the end credits. So it's great that the game pairs you up with Sheva Alomar, a local operative who knows her way around the region of Kijuju. Unlike many AI companions, she's great at getting out of the way when you're moving and shooting, but she's quick to offer assistance when you're running low on health or ammo. What's not to like?

Navi - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

HEY. LISTEN. When The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time came out in 1998, we were all pretty new to navigating three-dimensional game worlds. Enter Navi, a sweet, glowing fairy who helps Link--and thereby the player--sort out what's what in Hyrule. She does everything a good sidekick should do: She tells you how to work the game's controls, reminds you what to do next when you forget, and gives you hints when you get stuck. Come to think of it, I could use a Navi in real life...

Fawkes - Fallout 3

Yeah, yeah, everyone loves Dogmeat in Fallout 3. But you know what? That pup just isn't very helpful. Mostly he wanders around until a mole rat gets the better of him. A much more useful companion is Fawkes, a musclebound super mutant who's far more thoughtful and well spoken than you'd expect based on his hideous appearance. But what he lacks in beauty he makes up for on the battlefield. Fawkes can take loads of damage and deliver a serious pounding to anyone foolish enough to fight him. He's the kind of guy any lone wanderer would want on their side.

Bentley - Sly Cooper Series

The Sly Cooper games may have the thieving raccoon's name in their titles, but he'd be nothing without his buddy Bentley at his side. Not only does Bentley plan out every mission the gang goes on, but he also hacks through firewalls and infiltrates enemy lairs like a pro. And if that's not enough, he's shown more resilience than either of his pals. After a devastating injury in Sly 2 permanently disables his legs, he keeps going--and designs a wheelchair that makes him even more agile than before. Without Bentley, Sly Cooper would hardly be a hero at all.

Ellie - The Last of Us

Has a game ever given us a more likable companion than Ellie? As she and Joel make their way across a post-apocalyptic America, players get to listen in on some of the best dialog ever conceived for a game. Whether they're strategizing about how to survive or simply making casual observations, it's impossible not to get drawn into their relationship. Ellie is still a kid, and Joel has lost almost everything in the apocalypse, but by the end of the game they've given each other a reason to go on.

Wheatley - Portal 2

The Weighted Companion Cube may the most popular accessory in the Portal universe, but as a character it's paper thin. Wheatley from Portal 2, on the other hand, is a sphere with a winning--if neurotic--personality. Voiced by Stephen Merchant, Wheatley's full of character, with lots of opinions, humor, and at least one gigantic flaw. Your relationship to him shifts throughout the game, but he's a pleasure to have around when he's helping you out (or trying to, anyway).

Maya Fey - Ace Attorney Series

Star defense attorney Phoenix Wright is very good at his job, but he owes a lot of his success to Maya Fey, his assistant (who also happens to be a spirit medium). It's not unusual for Phoenix to find himself blubbering like a fool during trial, only to be saved when Maya offers a clever bit of quick thinking that turns things back in their favor. Not only does she save him from embarrassment, but she also saves his clients from guilty verdicts.

Rush - Mega Man Series

All great sidekicks bring something to the table, whether it's assistance in battle or a little humor when the hero needs a pick-me-up. But no other sidekick on this list offers a wider array of abilities than Rush, the robotic dog from the Mega Man series. What he can do varies depending on which game you're playing, but he's been known to help Mega Man jump higher, fly over long pits, swim underwater, and even dig up treasure. Let's see your dog do that.

Sully - Uncharted Series

Victor "Sully" Sullivan is the unlikely sidekick of Nathan Drake throughout the majority of his high-flying adventures. They've been traveling the world together for a long time, so they often exchange witty dialog as they hunt for treasure and narrowly escape life-threatening situations involving plane crashes, betrayals, and hundreds of murderous enemies. Through it all, it's good to know Sully has your back.

Clementine - The Walking Dead

There's nothing that raises the stakes in a zombie apocalypse quite like being responsible for a child's safety. That's exactly the position Lee Everett finds himself in at the start of the first season of the game. Clementine is an 8-year-old whose parents were away when the outbreak began, and whose babysitter was one of the early victims of the infection. As you travel to find out what happened to Clementine's parents, he becomes a father figure to her, which influences the decisions you make as a player. If you decide to do something immoral, you always know "Clementine will remember that."

Yoshi - Mario

Who could forget about Yoshi? Showing up as Mario's devoted companion in 1990's Super Mario World, Yoshi has appeared in most of the games since--although not necessarily in a big role. Always ready to give his plumber friend a ride, Yoshi doesn't shy away from putting in extra effort, whether that means holding a Koopa shell in his mouth for an entire level or kicking his feet to get a little extra air during a jump, Yoshi has Mario's back.

Did we leave out your favorite video game wingman? Let us know in the comments!

Chris Reed is a freelance writer and editor. You can follow him on Twitter at @_chrislreed.